Today's episode of A New Beginning is brought to you by Harvest Partners, helping people everywhere know God.
Learn more at harvest.org. And while you're there, browse our library of free ebooks designed to help you grow in your faith. Maybe you find yourself in a cave of sorts right now. You're isolated, you're hurting, you're deeply depressed.
It just gets worse with each day. Just as Elijah found himself in a deep, dark cave, figuratively and literally, Pastor Greg Laurie says we can too. So I'd ask you, do you want to get out of the mess you're in? Do you want to get out of the cave you find yourself in? Do you want to get out of the misery you find yourself in? Then turn to Jesus Christ.
He's the answer. It may come as a surprise to some. It may be welcome confirmation for others, but believers can get depressed. Yes, there are numerous scriptures about joy and contentment, but we're humans living in mortal bodies in challenging times. Well, today on A New Beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie focuses on a depressing time in the life of the great prophet Elijah and highlights a number of practical principles to help us in our times of challenge. You might want to take some notes. Let's grab our Bibles and turn to 1 Kings chapter 18.
And the title of my message is Dealing with Depression. We're at part two of the story of Elijah on Mount Carmel, and this is the last message in my Elijah series. So we remember that all the prophets of Baal were gathered there together for the big showdown. 850 prophets of Baal versus one man of God. Elijah says, let's let the real God answer by fire. Look at 1 Kings 18, 27. About noontime, Elijah began mocking them. They left a shout louder, he scoffed.
For surely he's a God. Maybe he's away on a trip or he's asleep or he needs to be wakened. And so they shouted louder. Oh, I left out one word, one phrase.
Perhaps he's daydreaming or is relieving himself. We don't want to miss that one. So shout louder. So they shouted louder following their normal custom. They cut themselves with knives and swords until the blood gushed out.
They raved all afternoon until the time of the evening sacrifice. But still there was no sound, no reply, no response. So Elijah says, yeah, you guys go do your thing. Are you done? Okay, wow, what a mess. Blood everywhere.
Seriously? Now it's my turn. And he says, I want you to repair the altar, which they did. Now I want you to douse it with water. I want you to do it again, do it again. Three times they doused the altar.
Why? Because when God answered this prayer, he wanted everyone to know it was the Lord. 1 Kings 18, 36. At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel, and I am your servant, and I've done all these things at your command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again. I love this prayer.
Just confidence in God. He didn't cut himself, he didn't scream, he didn't yell, he didn't jump up and down. He just prayed.
What happened? 1 Kings 18, verse 38. Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the soil, and looked up the water in the trench. And when all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, the Lord he is God, the Lord he is God.
Love this. So Ahab goes back to the palace, and he tells his wicked wife Jezebel what just happened. She was probably waiting for good news. The prophets of Baal won. Elijah's dead.
It didn't work out quite that way. And all those prophets, yes, 850, yeah, they're dead. They're gone. And Elijah's alive. So Jezebel was very angry. 1 Kings 19, when Ahab got home, he told her everything Elijah had done, including the way he killed all the prophets of Baal. Jezebel sent this message to Elijah.
May the God strike me and even kill me by this time tomorrow if I've not killed you, just as you killed them. And now this twist. Elijah was afraid and fled for his life.
Wait, what? Fled for his life? You're the guy that just stood on Mount Carmel. You called fire down from heaven. You're the guy who stopped the rain. You're the guy who raised a little boy from the dead. How could you be afraid?
Why? Because Elijah was human just like we are, James reminds us. Human just like we are. You know we put spiritual leaders on pedestals. We think because God has called them to teach or preach or to lead that they don't have the same pressures and emotions that we all have.
But they're people just like you. Not only was he afraid, he got depressed. First Kings 19 four, he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed he might die. He said, I've had enough, Lord. Take my life. I'm no better than my ancestors who have already died.
We'll stop there. Elijah was not the first man or woman of God to feel this way. Moses became so blue he asked God to take his life as well. Jonah after the great revival of Nineveh effectively did the same thing. Even the apostle Paul got so down he said he despaired of life.
Again, he was human like us. Emotions can get the best of us. So let me just close this message with a few points about dealing with depression. Before I do this, let me say this. There is something called clinical depression that is real.
You should talk to your doctor about that. I'm not talking about clinical depression. I'm talking about the kind of depression that we might face in life in general when we get down in the doldrums. So let me say this. Here's my first point. Times of depression and vulnerability often come after great victories.
Let me say that again. Times of depression and vulnerability often come after great victories. Elijah had just had the greatest victory of his life. In fact, everything in his life was effectively building up to this. He was being prepared for it. He goes into the court of Ahab.
He says it's not going to rain. The Lord calls him to a brook that he gets his water from and ravens drop his food by each day. And then the brook dries up and then the Lord has him go be dependent on a widow to care for him. So the Lord's getting him ready. And then he emerges and he has this amazing event. And then the death threat.
Depression often follows disappointment. Maybe Elijah thought that King Ahab would believe. Maybe he even thought that Jezebel would come around. But the opposite happened.
Ahab went back, ratted out Elijah and Jezebel, put a contract out on his life. So this can happen in our life as well. Maybe you just took a bold step of faith. God used you in a powerful way and all of a sudden all of this spiritual warfare began. You didn't even understand it. All of a sudden your kids are turning from the Lord.
You're leading people to Christ and your kids are not interested in spiritual things. Or you're having problems in your marriage. Or you're having problems somewhere else. There can't be a cause and effect here. And you find yourself slumping into depression. You know, I am not a person that deals with depression in general.
But I've had depressing moments, I can tell you that. And you might be surprised to know that I have found that there's a little slump of depression that will come right after we do some big thing. We do a big crusade.
It's all exciting. A bunch of people come to the Lord and I just know Monday morning I'm going to be down. It hits me in the it hits me and here's how I learned how to deal with that. I observed Billy Graham up close and personal. Because toward the end of his ministry I had the privilege of spending a lot of time with him. Helping him with his sermons.
Hanging out with him. And I remember one event in particular where in Portland Oregon and Johnny Cash sang and Billy Graham preached. The place was packed.
And think about this. This is Portland Oregon. This is Portlandia right. Okay this is they're very it's probably one of the most unchurched cities in America. And so here's Billy Graham preaching. It's like revival like.
Amazing. All these people come to the Lord and we're on the platform and we're coming down and Billy Graham is now walking out to his car. There are people on each side and we have us sort of holding them back. And I'm right behind him he's just walking along his head that's kind of down.
People are like Billy Billy we love you Billy. He just keeps walking. He gets into the car and we're driving out.
And so I'm thinking you know I want to compliment him and encourage him. So I'm riding shotgun next to T.W. Wilson his long-time associate. And Billy's in the back seat next to him is his son Franklin. Turn around over the seat and I say Billy that was a great message tonight. Billy looks at me with those steely blue eyes and he says it was just gospel. Turn back around. Whoa okay I knew I knew that. And then I turned back around.
I love that one point when you said Christ can resensitize your conscience. Billy shot back well he can. Okay I turned back. I'm not talking to him anymore.
Clearly the man does not want to be complimented. Then we drove to the hotel. He invited us up to his room. Someone had given us some roast beef sandwiches before the crusade started. That was a long time ago. They were cold.
So we are going to all now eat these sandwiches. And Billy disappears for a moment and comes back into the room in his pajamas and dress shoes. I guess he left his slippers at home.
So there's Billy Graham who just preached to thousands of people in his pajamas and dress shoes eating a cold roast beef sandwich. What was a lesson I learned? Don't take yourself too seriously okay. This is something God did. You didn't do it. Return to normal as quickly as possible.
And I observed that in his character and the way he functioned. So don't focus on your emotions. Focus on God. You're not as good as people say you are. You're not as bad as people say you are.
Some of you maybe but I don't know. You are God's servant. You're just doing what God called you to do. Give him the glory and move on. Get over yourself. Don't live in the past.
Instead prepare for the future. I read about a sign that's posted on an airport runway at the end of the road. And the sign says this. Keep moving.
If you stop you are in danger and a danger to those who are flying end quote. Just keep moving. And that's what we need to do. I feel down today. Really? Well just keep moving forward. Yeah but I feel yeah well don't obsess about it.
Keep moving. Pastor Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment. It's such a blessing to hear from listeners who take time to express their appreciation. I started listening to Pastor Greg when I first became a Christian in the 1980s. But then I got so busy in ministry in my church that I didn't really listen very much.
Then COVID hit and life slowed down. I started listening to Pastor Greg again and I'm so glad I did. His solid preaching with his great sense of humor along with his heart for evangelism keeps me encouraged in my faith. I'm so thankful there are pastors like him still out there. I pray every day for Pastor Greg, his family, church, and ministry.
It's a privilege to bring these studies your way. If you'd like to share a comment with Pastor Greg call us and let us know. Call 1-866-871-1144. That's 866-871-1144. Well today Pastor Greg is presenting some helpful principles that can get us through times of challenge and depression.
Point number two. When you're depressed do not isolate but surround yourself with friends. When you're depressed don't isolate from others.
1 Kings 19-4. Elijah went on alone in the wilderness traveling all day. He was alone. He needed a trusted friend who could have encouraged him. Often when we're down we separate from people when we should do the opposite. Even Jesus asked Peter, James, and John to simply sit with him in the Garden of Gethsemane. Right? And why?
Because the scripture says he was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Research reveals that three out of five Americans feel lonely. Experts have long known that loneliness and isolation has long-ranging effects on the mind and body ranging from anxiety and depression to vulnerability and even illness. Having just one or two friendships can dramatically decrease loneliness. Get some friends around you. People that can encourage you. Don't isolate yourself from everyone.
And social media is not filled with friends. Get real living breathing human people around you. Right? Point number three. Don't ignore the practical when you're feeling down. Don't ignore the practical.
I love this part. First Kings 19 four. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and he prayed that he might die. I've had enough Lord.
Take my life. And he laid down and slept under the broom tree. As he was sleeping an angel touched him and said get up and eat.
Sounds like a mother. Get up and eat. He looked around and there was some baked bread on hot stones and a jar of water.
So he ate and drank and sat down again. Sometimes you don't need a sermon. You need a sandwich. I'm serious.
Sometimes it's the practical. When did you eat last? What did you eat last? Have you gotten some exercise? Have you gone outside? Have you put your phone down and just looked at God's creation or had a conversation with somebody? You see sometimes it's the simple things.
Final point. When you're feeling down you need perspective from God's Word. When you're feeling down and depressed you need perspective from God's Word.
First Kings 19 eight. He got up and ate and drank and the food gave him enough strength to travel 40 days and nights to Mount Sinai the mountain of God. He came to a cave where he spent the night and the Lord said what are you doing here Elijah? When we are feeling down we need to look up and listen for the voice of God. There's a lot of voices coming at us. We need to hear God's voice and where are we going to hear God's voice? You're going to hear God's voice and God's Word.
So you've got to open the book and listen. The story goes on to say that while he was in the cave there was a mighty earthquake but then it says but the Lord was not in the earthquake. Then there was a fire but the Lord was not in the fire and there was a wind but the Lord was not in the wind and then he heard a still small voice. Sometimes we're looking for God in the big events in life and we should but sometimes he's speaking to us quietly.
So we need to be quiet. You know Johnny Cash had a similar event in his life when he was at the peak of his fame. He found himself addicted to amphetamines and barbiturates.
He used amphetamines to keep going on the road. Then he used barbiturates to get to sleep at night and he began to isolate himself from friends and family and he said I never wanted to see another dawn. So he went to a place on the Tennessee river known as the Nickajack Cave. It was a series of caves somewhere larger than two or three football stadiums.
It just went on and on and on and people were known to go in those caves and never come out again because they'd get lost disoriented and they would die. Johnny was kind of hoping that would happen to him. So he went deep into that cave where it was pitch darkness and then he said that lack of light was appropriate for at that moment I was as far from God as I had ever been. And Johnny said when he was in the darkness of that cave not even wanting to live another day the Lord spoke to him and said what are you doing here.
Just like Elijah right. It was there that Johnny Cash made a recommitment to Christ and he said of the experience God saved me from killing myself. Maybe you find yourself in a cave of sorts right now.
Not a literal cave but a cave nonetheless. You're despondent. You're isolated. You're hurting. You're deeply depressed.
It just gets worse with each day. And the Lord might say to you what are you doing here. You don't have to be here. You can get out of this place that you're in right now by turning to me. Listen for that still small voice.
You know Jesus could have said that to Peter when he was warming himself for the enemy's fire about to betray the Lord for the third time and deny his name. Like what are you doing here dude. Why. You know we get ourselves in crazy places and we don't know why things are going so badly. What are you doing there.
Did you have to go there. You know you struggle. I struggle with drinking. I'm an alcoholic and when I was at the bar the other night.
Wait what. What are you doing there. Well I don't know why I make these bad decisions.
I hang around with all these people and we're partying away. What are you doing there. Why weren't you at church.
See we make bad decisions then we reap the consequences of them and we wonder why things are going the way that they're going. God says what are you doing here. Come out of that cave. Oh God can help you but you need to get up and say I don't want to be here anywhere.
Anymore. You know there was that man that Jesus healed and he said do you want to be made whole. So I'd ask you do you want to get out of the mess you're in. Do you want to get out of the cave you find yourself in. Do you want to get out of the misery you find yourself in. Then turn to Jesus Christ.
He's the answer. He's the one who can save you and forgive you. Now listen if you want Jesus Christ to come into your life. If you want him to forgive you of your sin.
If you want to know that you'll go to heaven when you die. I want you to pray this prayer after me. You could even pray it out loud if you like.
Just pray these words. Lord Jesus I know I'm a sinner but I know you're the savior. I turn from my sin now and I choose to follow you from this moment forward.
And father I know that there are some of us that maybe find ourselves in a cave we placed ourselves into and we need to come out of that place. We need to recommit ourselves to you again. And I'm going to pray a prayer for anyone that needs to make that recommitment to Jesus for you to pray as well. You could just pray Lord Jesus I need to repair my altar. I need to get back to those things you've called me to.
I need to return to my first love. So Lord hear my prayer. I recommit myself to you now. In Jesus name I pray.
Amen. Pastor Greg Laurie praying with those who are making a change in their relationship with the Lord today. And if you're coming to the Lord for the first time and asking him to forgive your sins if you've meant those words today as you prayed with Pastor Greg we want you to know your sins have been forgiven and you're now a new child of God.
Now let us help you get started off right. Let us send you Pastor Greg's New Believer's Bible. It's a special edition of God's Word that's perfect for those who are new to the faith. It'll answer many of the questions you may have and help you begin to build a strong foundation for your faith. So ask for the New Believer's Bible when you call 1-800-821-3300. That's a 24 7 phone number 1-800-821-3300.
Or write A New Beginning Box 4000 Riverside California 92514. Or go online to harvest.org and click Know God. You know Pastor Greg our listeners know that we bring them the best resources for undergirding their walk with the Lord and equipping them to share their faith.
And today of course is a case in point. We're not just offering a book of minimum locado. We're offering a book of max locado. Max locado.
That's a bit of a stretch. It's max locado all the time. Now that's a name most of us know and if you don't I don't know where you've been. He's he's written 50 books and 150 million of them are somewhere because people have bought them all around the world and have been blessed by them. So when max writes a new book I'm always interested but I have to be honest with you when max told me he was writing this book I was really interested and let me tell you why. Because I love the way that max approaches things.
It's unique. God's given him a unique gifting of making the complex simple and of drawing us closer to the Lord in his writing. Sometimes in bible prophecy when people teach on it it's alarmist it's it's exploitive it's it's done in a wrong way and it's even scary. Listen I've read a lot of books on end times events and immediately I was gripped by the way this book is written.
It pulls you right in. It's that classic style that max has when he writes but it's unique it's fresh and you're gonna love it. I'm telling you of all the things we've offered over the years this is something that may be the most important of all because of the topic and who's writing on the topic. The topic is the end times and the title of this book is what happens next and the author is Max Lucado. So Max what prompted you to write a book on this subject? You know as I've looked back like you Greg I've been doing this quite a while and I realized I could have taught on this more and so I'm at that time in my life you know where I'm realizing I don't know how many more years I'll I'm good I'm like you Greg I want to I want to go to heaven from the pulpit I I don't want to stop preaching but I want I want to make sure I've represented the Lord well and when I read that that about 30 percent of the Bible is prophecy much of which has yet to be fulfilled I realized that did not match my preaching you know I've not dedicated 30 percent of my teaching to end times it's almost I wanted to have one good opportunity to do that and so I I preached 16 weeks in a row at our church on the topic of end times and what we found it's the most evangelistic series that we've ever had people are ready people want to know you don't have to convince people number one that the world is a mess and really don't have to convince people number two that they're a mess without Christ down deep they know this and so what we're doing by giving them a view of end times is is helping them have a way to face the future with faith you know when you equip people with information about the future you're giving them power to face the present I remember some time ago I got stuck on a tarmac you've probably had this happen I spent four hours on a tarmac in Chicago in the dead of night in the middle of a storm and it was terrible it was terrible because the pilot said so little I kept wanting him to come on the intercom and say okay here's where we are here's what's going to happen we were stuck there I think many people feel stuck in life they're trapped and they look outside they see lightning and storms and they wonder if they're ever going to move what we need is the pilot and in our case our pilot has spoken our lord has spoken he has spoken abundantly about what to expect again like you've said never to scare us but always to prepare us and to tell us it is tough this world you're going to have a lot of tribulation a lot of turbulence but you can be of good cheer I've overcome the world and the best of life is yet to be so you're listening to Max Lucado he's written a brand new book called what happens next and in a way I think considering the fact that you haven't written extensively on this subject perhaps this will cause people to say I really want to hear what locato has to say about this this is something that you're looking at with I think fresh eyes with a wonderful perspective and it's something that's going to be a blessing to everyone who reads it so we've got a copy with your name on it here at a new beginning it's called what happens next the new book on end times events that we'll send to you for your gift of any size yeah that's right you'll love this new book you'll be so glad you read the book thanks for investing in the work we do here each day on a new beginning we're reaching so many people with the gospel each and every day and to thank you tangibly let us send you max's book what happens next you can call us at 1-800-821-3300 that's 1-800-821-3300 or write us at a new or write us at a new beginning box 4000 riverside california 92514 or just go online to harvest.org hey everybody i want to encourage you to join us for something we call Harvest at Home it happens every sunday at harvest.org and on our brand new app harvest plus which is available on your mobile tv devices download it now and you can watch Harvest at Home with christians from around the world as we worship together and study god's word so again join us for Harvest at Home at harvest.org or on harvest plus in so many ways this world has lost its way but god wants believers to bring the kind of change it needs next time tune in for some practical help on how to be a world changer join us here on a new beginning with pastor and bible teacher greg lorry a new beginning is a podcast made possible by harvest partners helping people everywhere know god if this show has impacted your life share your story leave a review on your favorite podcast app and help others find hope
